Vanessa Fernandez
Vanessa Fernandez proudly identifies as a bisexual Latina woman. She was born and raised in the Bronx, New York, by her Puerto Rican and Dominican parents, and now lives in Clermont, Florida. Vanessa’s immediate family has always been supportive, which has been a grounding force in her journey of self-discovery and growth.
Unlike many people, she didn’t grow up questioning her sexuality. It wasn’t until her early 20s that she began to realize she was attracted to women — a realization that came with both beautiful moments and difficult questions. She was in a long-term relationship with a man at the time, but her first relationship with a woman deeply challenged and awakened something in her. That connection was intense, emotional, and hard to let go of — it made her really dig deep into her identity and what love meant for Vanessa.
There was a period where she struggled with clarity — trying to figure out if she was only attracted to women, or men, or both. That gray area felt isolating at times. But she knew she owed it to herself to explore who she was, without fear or shame. When Vanessa moved to San Diego, she intentionally sought out LGBTQ+ community spaces, both personally and professionally. She got involved in advocacy work within her company and volunteered for Pride events, giving back to the community that helped find herself.
What empowers Vanessa today is knowing she can be a voice for others. Not everyone has the strength or safety to stand up, speak out, or simply be who they are. She takes pride in representing those who can’t yet share their truth — whether that’s through her personal advocacy or her public platform, Clermont Local, which now reaches over 17,000 followers. Through this space, she strives to lead by example and show that LGBTQ+ folks — especially bisexual women like her — are just as deserving of love, visibility, and respect.
If there’s one message she wants others to take from her story, it’s this: you are not alone. Your story may not look like anyone else’s — and that’s okay. She used to compare herself to others and question whether she was “queer enough” or “valid enough.” But she learned that your journey is your own, and your identity is real no matter how or when you come into it. You deserve love. You deserve peace. And you deserve to live your truth fully and proudly.
Vanessa’s mantra? You only live once — so live it fully. Surround yourself with people who lift you up. Choose happiness. Choose self-love. And most of all, choose to be true to yourself.
